The collections for 2023 show an elegant evolution of the bohemian style that has dominated bridal fashion over the past few years. Photo: visualhunt.com
Voluminous skirts, "Sleeping Beauty sleeves" and tulle everywhere – this season's bridalwear is all about upping the glam factor.
If you're a bride going for a glamorous look on your big day, the good news is that the "princess dress" is back, according to European fashion editors. There's plenty of tulle involved this season, too.
The collections for 2023 show an elegant evolution of the bohemian style that has dominated bridal fashion over the past few years, so you'll see a lot of understated chic, lace and crocheted patterns.
Susan Lippe-Bernard, editor-in-chief of a German bridal magazine, sums up the look as "boho glam".
That look is embodied in a wedding dress that has a corsage paired with a voluminous flared skirt, also known as a princess dress.
A further feature this season is tulle wherever you look.
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You'll see wide, delicate tulle skirts, glittering tulle elements and embroidered tulle trains. You'll also see a lot of delicate lace details. But unlike the original boho look, these are not made of crochet lace but are more fine and delicate.
Another aspect of this season's embrace of elegance is champagne, a shimmering, tinted white that has a light golden touch. A further change is to the veil, an accessory that looks set to be a little more opulent this season.
"Five years ago we were seeing a lot of elbow-length veils," says Kerrin Wiesener who works for a German wedding planners association.
Now, if a bride chooses a veil, it is likely to be a long one, meaning well beyond her train. Known as a cathedral veil, these can be really eye-catching.
If you are not sure which veil is right for you, Lippe-Bernard advises choosing one that picks up on the lace elements in your dress.
You're also likely to see a lot of dresses with a fitted bodice and "Sleeping Beauty sleeves" in designers' collections, puffed sleeves that are gathered at the lower end of the sleeve.
As these eye-catching sleeves only start halfway up the upper arm, the shoulders are left bare, drawing attention to the bride's collarbone.
This is a great combination for anyone who likes off-the-shoulder dresses but finds them a little too revealing, according to Vogue.
When it comes to the fitting, Wiesener advises brides to check whether they can lift their arms easily in the dress as there's a lot of hugging and cheering involved on a wedding day.
If you're wondering how you're going to be able to dance with a big tulle skirt plus a veil, don't worry. "What we will see a lot more of now are dresses with detachable elements," says Wiesener. "Detachable sleeves, detachable trains, detachable overskirts, detachable bows. So two looks in one."
Lippe-Bernard calls the approach, "Princess by day," before the bride "becomes a party queen" for the evening.
You can also create a two-piece look with an elegant cape that you wear for the wedding ceremony before taking it off later for dancing, perhaps revealing a fashionable backless dress.
"Mix and match is a big theme in bridal fashion right now," says Lippe-Bernard.
If you are looking for an alternative to the wedding dress, consider that jack-of-all-trades, the two-piece. There are classic trouser suits pairing a blazer with wide trousers, plus a cropped top, for example. Or a combination of a bodice and tulle skirt.
Another current fashion is skirt styles that layer a series of different materials, says Lippe-Bernard.
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"That means a layer of tulle, a layer of lace, another layer of tulle on top. That creates incredible lightness, but also incredible volume."
The big advantage of a multi-piece outfit compared to a dress is that you have many more possible combinations for your big day.
You might start off with a voluminous skirt for your wedding ceremony then swap it for a simple mini for the party, giving you even greater freedom of movement.
You can also use a simple bridal top in everyday life after the big day, says Wiesener.
This season's mix-and-match trend also reflects a longer-term development in bridal fashion, namely towards individuality. The range of bridal fashion has expanded, which is good news for wardrobes everywhere. – AFP Relaxnews
